Social Media Platforms Deliberately Designed to Hook Children, Lawyer Alleges in Historic Trial
A groundbreaking trial unfolding in Los Angeles Superior Court has heard explosive allegations that two of the world's most powerful technology corporations deliberately engineered their platforms to create addiction in children. Attorney Mark Lanier, representing the plaintiff, told jurors on Monday that Meta and Google-owned YouTube built "machines designed to addict the brains of children" intentionally, not by accident.
Landmark Case Could Set Legal Precedent
The trial before Judge Carolyn Kuhl represents what legal experts describe as a potentially precedent-setting case that could establish corporate liability for social media's effects on minors. At the heart of the litigation are claims that a 20-year-old woman, identified as Kayley G.M., suffered severe mental harm after becoming addicted to social media during her childhood years.
"This case is about two of the richest corporations in history who have engineered addiction in children's brains," Lanier declared in his opening statement. "I'm going to show you evidence that these companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose."
How Platforms Allegedly Create Addiction
The attorney detailed specific mechanisms he claims were deliberately implemented to foster compulsive use. He described Instagram as presenting an "endless feed" of people's "filtered lives" where users "spend time waiting for social validation" in a continuous loop designed to maximize engagement.
Regarding YouTube, Lanier explained how the platform "plays the next video before you can decide to stop," employing sophisticated algorithms that "learn what keeps you watching and feeds you more of it, whether you search for it or not." This automatic progression, he argued, intentionally bypasses users' conscious decision-making processes.
The Profit Motive Behind Addiction
Lanier was explicit about the financial incentives driving these design choices, stating, "I'm going to talk about how Google and Meta deliberately designed their products, YouTube and Instagram, to hook users and to keep them coming back — not by accident, by design — because addiction is profitable."
The attorney promised to present evidence from the companies "in their own words" alongside brain science research to demonstrate why "'just put it down' is never an option" for users, particularly children whose developing brains are more susceptible to these engineered patterns.
Broader Implications and Parental Concerns
The trial has drawn attention from parents and child advocates internationally, with some appearing outside the courthouse holding photographs of children who suffered bullying and other harms through social media platforms. The case raises fundamental questions about corporate responsibility when products potentially cause psychological harm to vulnerable populations.
As the proceedings continue, legal observers note that the outcome could establish important boundaries for technology companies regarding their duty of care toward young users. The trial represents one of the most significant legal challenges to date regarding how social media platforms are designed and their impact on children's mental wellbeing.
